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No need to revisit that 1996 Powerpoint for Dummies guide. And forget that helpful advice your boss once gave you about “telling them what you’re going to tell them and then telling them again”. Nope. If you really want to suck at presenting, you’ve come to the right place. Just keep reading for some simple yet powerful guidelines for truly being the worst. 1. Be something or someone you’re not: Number one way to suck at presenting is by actively trying to emulate others’ presenting styles. “That dude looked cool when he put his hand in his pocket. Must work for me.” “She was quippy and a little smartass and… Read more >

“Training without sustainment is basically malpractice.” Let me rewind for a second. Picture the scenario. As the Combustor tasked with figuring out what the company’s newly minted sustainment program should look like, I had gone to a world-renowned Learning & Development conference in search of learning transfer & retention strategies. And THIS is what I heard from the first presenter in the first session. Cue pale face, tingling skin, and slight nausea. Although my entire purpose for being in that room was to begin to develop a really kick-ass sustainment program, it still made me feel sick to think we were apparently behind the curve in terms of having a… Read more >

One of the first things we tell participants is that our Stand & Deliver foundational presentation skills workshop has a ‘cry factor’ of about 9. (Note: All Combustion workshops have a ‘cry factor’ rating which might tell you a lot about our weird and wonderful ways.). Despite it having been deemed “better than therapy” by some, faces usually blanch. Looks are exchanged. Nervous titters. A hand is raised. “Umm, what does that actually mean?” We explain that what we’re trying to help them do is find their voice. The authentic stripped down one. Not the bullshit persona voice that’s been built up as armor from years of negative criticism, fear… Read more >